Floribunda rose plant named `POULgret`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct floribunda rose plant is disclosed which has abundant creamy white flowers, dark green glossy foliage, compact even growth, and rapid repeat flowering. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year round production in commercial glasshouses and nurseries. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present discovery constitutes a new and distinct variety offloribunda rose plant which was discovered in a cultivated area. Themutation resulted from POULskov, a patented variety described andillustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,062 and issued on Feb. 28, 1995.The variety resulted from a naturally occurring mutation of unknowncausation discovered as a branch of a plant of `POULskov` which wasgrowing in a controlled planting. The variety was discovered in theautumn of 1990. The new variety is named `POULgret`.

The rose plant of the present discovery has a unique combination ofcharacteristics which are outstanding in the new variety and whichdistinguish it from the original rose `POULskov` as well as all othervarieties which we are aware of. For example, the new variety has:

1. Abundant uniform creamy white flowers with good durability and repeatbloom;

2. Attractive long lasting foliage and compact growth,

3. Year-round flowering under glasshouse conditions;

4. Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots;

5. Durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable fordistribution in the floral and nursery industry.

This combination of qualities was lacking in floribunda rose varietiesthat were in commercial cultivation and the qualities have beensubstantially achieved in the new variety.

The resulting mutation was evaluated during the spring of 1991 in acontrolled environment.

`POULgret` was selected by L. Pernille and Mogens N. Olesen in theirrose development program in Fredensborg, Denmark in the summer of 1991.

Asexual reproduction of `POULgret` by cuttings and traditional buddingwas first done by L. Pernille and Mogens N. Olesen in August, 1991. Thisinitial and subsequent propagations have demonstrated that thecharacteristics of `POULgret` are true to type and are transmitted fromone generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color illustrations show as true as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, stems, and a plant of`POULgret`. Specifically illustrated in SHEET 1:

1. Stem or entire plant showing branching and the attachment of leaves,buds, and peduncles;

2. Flower bud, partially opened bud, and open bloom;

3. Flower petals, detached;

4. Sepals, receptacle, and pedicel;

5. Flowering stem as well as a bare stem exhibiting thorns;

6. Leaves.

Specifically illustrated in SHEET 2 is a closeup view of the blooms andfoliage of the plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of `POULgret`, as observed inits growth in glasshouses in Fredensborg, Denmark and Half Moon Bay,Calif. and in field nursery in Applegate, Oreg. Descriptions were madefrom plants treated with growth regulators normally used in thegreenhouse production process. The growth regulator Paclobutrazol wasapplied at 30 ppm weekly for three weeks beginning at a plant age of 9weeks. The peduncle lengths mentioned may actually be shorter and thefoliage color several shades darker than on untreated specimens. Colorreferences are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London,England) Colour Chart, 1995.

For a comparison, the nearest existing rose variety is POULskov, apatented variety described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,062and issued on Feb. 28, 1995. Chart 1 details several physicalcharacteristics of `POULgret` and the comparison variety.

    ______________________________________                                        Chart 1                                                                                  `POULgret` `POULskov`                                              ______________________________________                                        Color of the RHS 155 B of the                                                                           Between RHS 49 C                                    flower bud at 1/4                                                                          White Color  of the Red Color                                    opening      Group        Group and RHS 55                                                              D of the Red                                                                  Color Group                                         Color of the RHS 155 B of the                                                                           Between RHS 49 D                                    upper surface of                                                                           White Color  of the Red Color                                    petal on an open                                                                           Group        Group and RHS 56                                    flower                    B of the Red                                                                  Color Group                                         Color of edge of                                                                           RHS 155 B of the                                                                           RHS 36 B of the                                     upper side of                                                                              White Color  Red Color Group                                     petal on an open                                                                           Group                                                            flower                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

Mutation resulting from: `POULskov` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,062).

Classification:

Botanical.--Rosa hybrida.

Commercial.--Floribunda.

Flower and Flower Bud

Blooming cycle: Recurrent.

Flower bud:

Size.--18-22 mm in length when petals are just beginning to crack open.

Bud form.--Pointed to ovoid.

Bud color.--R.H.S. 155 B of the White Color Group at 1/4 opening.

Sepals.--Between R.H.S. 138 A and R.H.S. 138 B of the Green Group.Foliaceous appendages not present. Surfaces of sepals lightly pubescent.Stipitate glands present.

Peduncle.--Surface: Without prickles. Stipitate glands present. Length:25-35 mm average length. Color: R.H.S. 139 C of the Green Color Group.Prickles: Lacking.

Receptacle.--Surface: Smooth. Glabrous. Shape: Funnel to urn shaped.Size: Small. 8 mm×7 mm. Color: R.H.S. 139 C of the Green Color Group.

Borne.--Sometimes singly, usually multiple to 3-5 buds per stem.

Flowering Stem:

Length.--25-35 cm.

Flower bloom:

Diameter.--Small to medium for its class. 50-60 mm on average.

Form.--Upon opening, ovate to rounded. Completely open a flattenedconvex with petals somewhat reflexed.

Petalage.--Semi-Double. Average range: 25-28 petals.

Color.--Upon opening, the upper surface is R.H.S. 155 B of the WhiteColor Group. Upon opening, the reverse side is R.H.S. 155 B of the WhiteColor Group. After opening, the upper surface is R.H.S. 155 B of theWhite Color Group. After opening, the reverse surface is R.H.S. 155 B ofthe White Color Group. A small petal spot R.H.S. 4 C of the Yellow ColorGroup exists on the inner side of the petal base. A very small petalspot R.H.S. 4 C of the Yellow Color Group exists on the outer side ofthe petal base.

Margin.--Petals reflex backwards slightly. Margin undulated.

Variations.--Uniform.

Petaloids.--2-5 small and delicate petaloids per flower. Color Group155B.

Fragrance.--Limited apple-like fragrance.

Duration.--On the plant 12-15 days, as a cut flower 9-12 days.

Reproductive Organs:

Pollen.--Average abundance. Yellow-Orange Group 14B.

Anthers.--Size: Medium. Color: Yellow-Orange Group 14B.

Filaments.--Color: Greenish yellow R.H.S. 2 C of the Yellow Color Group.

Stigmas.--R.H.S. 2 D of the Yellow Color Group. Generally at sameposition as anthers.

Styles.--Color: White Group 155C.

Plant

Plant growth: Vigorous, compact, even, and bushy. When grown as a 15-17cm pot plant, the average height of the plant itself is 22-25 cm and theaverage width is 26-28 cm. When grown as a nursery plant on its ownroots, the average plant height is 70-80 cm and the average plant widthis 75-90 cm.

Stems:

Color.--Young wood: R.H.S. 143 C of the Green Color Group. Older wood:R.H.S. 143 B of the Green Color Group.

Prickles.--Incidence: Moderate. Size: Average length: 7-8 mm. Color:Yellow-Green Group 145C with intonation of Greyed-Red Group 179C. Shape:Linear to concave.

Bark.--Young wood: Smooth. Older wood: Smooth.

Plant foliage:

Normal number of leaflets on average leaves.--Normally 5 leaflets, but 7leaflets present on a number of leaves.

Leaf size.--Small to medium. 50×70 mm.

Abundance.--Above average abundance.

Color, mature foliage.--Upper leaf surface: Dark green. Between R.H.S.137 A and 139 A of the Green Color Group. Lower leaf surface: Mediumgreen. Between R.H.S. 138 A and 138 B of the of the Green Color Group.

Color juvenile foliage.--The upper leaf surface is Green Group 137A. Thelower leaf surface is Yellow-Green Group 147B. Leaflet margin, leafpetiole, leaf rachis, and stipule of juvenile foliage have redintonation of Greyed-Red Group 179A.

Plant leaves and leaflets:

Stipules.--Present. 5-7 mm in length. Hairs present. Juvenile stipulesare red or nearly so. Greyed-Red Group 179A. Mature stipules are GreenGroup 137B.

Petiole.--Length: 18-22 mm on leaves with 5 leaflets. Underneath: Withprickles and stipitate glands. Color of prickles is Green-White Group157B.

Edge.--Serrated.

Shapes.--Leaflets are ovate to rounded.

Leaflets.--Number: 5

Other.--Semi-glossy to glossy finish. Thick texture.

Disease resistance: Above average resistance to mildew, rust, and blackspot under normal growing conditions in Half Moon Bay, Calif. andFredensborg, Denmark and Applegate, Oreg.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the floribundaclass, substantially as herein illustrated and described, as a distinctand novel rose variety due to its abundant creamy white flowers, darkgreen glossy foliage, compact even growth, and rapid repeat floweringsuitable for production from softwood cuttings in pots, durable flowersand foliage which make the variety suitable for distribution in thefloral industry.